Sri Lanka Easter bombings: 15 sentenced to hundreds of years in prison each over deadly terror attacks

Islamic State-inspired bombings of churches and hotels in 2019 was one of the country’s worst ever attacks

A court in Sri Lanka has convicted 15 men on terrorist charges for their involvement in the deadly 2019 Easter bombings and sentenced them each to at least 220 years in prison.

The terror attacks, which targeted luxury hotels and churches as they held Easter services, left 267 people dead and wounded almost 600. The bombings, which were inspired by Islamic State (IS), were among the deadliest terror attacks in Sri Lanka’s history and sent shockwaves through the country.

Two Sri Lanka-based Islamist militant groups were believed to have orchestrated the attacks. A video, recorded by the suicide bombers the day before the bombings, showed the attackers with their faces covered, armed with rifles and swords and pledging allegiance to the then-IS leader Abu Bakhr al-Baghdadi to make Sri Lanka an Islamic nation and wage war.

The attacks were carried out by nine suicide bombers who died in the blasts. None of those who directly participated survived.